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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: Supervlieg
concept: Gumball
(Bardus Luteolus Avis Globus)
Mostly useless. That's probably the best description for the Mugball. Every once in a while these yellow furry ball-like creatures fall from the sky. How they got up there or why they fall down, no-one knows. Mugballs can't fly, though on their way down they flap their little wings like a madman on fire. They are fairy rigid and survive the landing with no problems whatsoever. Since the body of the Mugball is way too heavy for its legs it can't walk and simply sits around until it dies. The Mugball don't seem to be bothered about starving and make no effort at all to gather food or look for shelter. They usually die within a few weeks.
Worried animal activists tried feeding them, and the Mugballs happily ate all the food that was presented to them. Even when well fed and taken care of, the Gumball remained totally inert and the animal lovers gave up after a while.
People tried eating them. The taste of Mugball meat was compared to eating a three week old sock that has been thoroughly worn. People tried using their fur for various purposes, but when the Mugball dies it loses its hair almost instantly. All in all the Mugballs remain quite the mistery, and whenever they fall from the sky, people quietly ignore them and hope they go away.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: kovah
concept:
This creature has only just been discovered in a remote part of the british countryside. Due to its very nature it is understandable that it has remained inconspicuous for so long.
Two years after its offical discovery it was named the Kawabunga Head hunter due to its unusal cry as its lets go of the cloud it has lived in most of its life (feeding on passing birds.) And drops towards the ground using its arms to steer in hope of landing on its favourite prey - balding men. It has exellent eyesight and so often hits its target.
When its lands on the mans head it wraps its very strong front limbs over the eyes of its prey and stabs its tounge into the mans skull, its tounge contains a toxin that knocks its prey out almost immediatly. Not wanting to kill the man it only takes small bits of brain, resulting in the man waking up several hours later not being able to remember a thing and what most people would describe as a hangover.
Once it has fed on human brain matter it will find a water source and lay its eggs or release sperm. Once these have been fertilized by a member of the opposite sex they will bind to a water molecule and eventually get evaporated into a cloud. The adult then dies and decomposes completely within a matter of hours.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: Chuck Wadey
concept:
These winged reptiles are highly aggressive and not very intelligent. They can attack without warning and destroy a small village in a single fiery pass. It's only through the tools of domestication that man can hope to compete. If a wild pack should migrate to your region, it cannot be allowed to patrol freely, lest you become prey from above. Best to take control of a dragon and turn it's destructive power on your enemies.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: Durin/Piru
concept: Hippo Skydivérius
A strange twist of genetic confusion! Some hippo's have started growing wings! Ofcourse this creature's weight is no match to the puny wings that have grown out of it's back. Any attempt to fly therefor ends in a smallscale local earthquake (for some reason they got startled in there instinct too). Although local governement advices wearing safety helmets in the surroundings of breeding places of the Hippo Skydivérius, it is best to avoid any cliffside, hill or even human constructions like bridges. Normally this is a shy creature, but when the adrenaline rush, as a reaction on seeing an elevated position get's hold of the beast, one is better to take a serious distance between him and the Hippo Skydivérius.
Warning: Do not enter Hippo Skydivérius' territories in mating season. The males intend to impress female Hippo's with their 'flying' skills. Nothing is safe in this period. Especially not Range Rover and Defender like jeeps, which are exactly big enough to be a good starterspoint for jumping down of.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: EtaCarinae
concept: Avian Crapper
The Avian Crapper commonly known as the ‘Stool Pigeon’ is one of Australia’s most notorious dangerous animals. In spring it becomes fiercely territorial defending its clutch of small brown eggs with a unique dive bomb attack. Up to 90% of Australian have suffered an attack from the native bird, with direct hits to the eye not being uncommon.
Plumage may vary from light tan to almost black and the bird is renown for its' loud and sometimes melodic song, often heard first thing in the morning.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: Michael Jaecks
concept: Gortgronks: Toad Dragons
Gortgronks, also known as Toad Dragons, hail from a planet that is low in gravity and high in water content. 97% of its surface is covered in water leaving only several small chains of island land masses. Amphibious animals are some of the most common life forms. Many have evolved the capacity to both swim and fly, letting them circulate over the various small continents. Toad Dragons can have 30 foot wingspans, are swfit predators, and give birth to their young in midair. Tadpole Dragons are capable of flight from birth, but rely on their families for food and protection in their early years.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: britt
concept:
Cindy thought she would clip a flower,
And put it in her hair,
Then she looked up,
And saw something that wasn't there,
It came from above,
With sharp teeth and no hair,
Cindy's life ended.....
Gobble! Gobble gobble.....
Life isn't fair

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: KaWaii
concept: Home Droppies
(The "home" means these creatures can't survive without relying on others and they actually "Drops" from the sky)
These birds are useless, however, they possesses one great talent. That's to be able to sense how to find a way to attract YOU to care for it. (acting cute, looking very sad at you and so on)
Their real parents drops their eggs in front of humans/animals. When the egg cracks open, the young bird will reconizes the first living being it sees as it's parent. It'll stick at you untill it's grown up and become a parent themselves.
When you have become the victim of one of these birds, good luck, you'll have to feed them, carry them around (it can't walk), give them attention, help them to go to bathroom, tell story's to have it sleep and so on.
Important note: When awake make sure you're ALWAYS in sight of it. Once it loses sight of you it'll cry, breaking the hearts of all living being around. Example: Your cat might feel really sad and attack you telling you to take care of it.
Of course there are tons of people who wants to take care of them, it's just that once you're a parent, you'll never get away.
Lastly, here's a picture of a baby bird currently living at MY house.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: Cloister
concept:
During the war with China in 2020, the US failed to recognize the threat of Chinese black magic, reported forgotten and ridiculed by the CIA. Several Buddhist temples unexpectedly took action in the conflict, bringing from their libraries the secrets of eons passed. The first magical creature summoned by the monks was the Tei-Lin, or as the Americans called it: The Chinese Wingless Hell-bat. This was a powerful species, greatly feared by the air force for its proficient and unaccountable flying. The swift acrobatic manoeuvres of the Tei-Lin (unrivaled by human aircraft) was a main component in the Chinese victory. Post war, the Hell-bat continued to provoke American citizens. No longer under the control of Chinese forces, its simplistic nature constituted no real threat to the world. But its love for a good and hot curry caused some major problems for individual families, and restaurants, before the spice was banned in 2025.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: cognition.sb
concept: Miller's Bug
In 1822, distinguished adventurer Abe Miller discovered a species that would change his life forever. His hobby took him far and wide, exploring often dangerous landscapes and regions of wilderness. In this particular trip he set out to conquer an infamous set of caves in southern China. Approximately 1100km directly inland from Hong Kong lie a series of caves believed to be haunted. Noone who enters is seen again.
As with most other ventures, Abe set out alone. With flashlight in hand, and supplies in a backpack he proceeded deeper and deeper into the first cave. The steep descent was difficult, but after half an hour of climbing he reached a large, open cavern with a shallow rock pool. Precious minerals protruded from rock formations, stalactites drooped from the ceiling and stalagmites rose from the floor. Abe was in awe until he noticed skeletal remains scattered across the ground. Suddenly his arm began to burn up, and he spun around to see the tip of stalactites detaching and flying towards him. Numerous insects flew in for the assault, spraying an acidic substance at the frantic adventurer. With great agility he managed to outrun the creatures, but the acid drops were now burning all over. Using bottled water to neutralise crucial areas he bought enough time to make it to a creek by the cave entrance. Rescued by a local hiker, the westerner was rushed to medical assistance, living to tell the tale with a permanently scarred face and body.
Creature details:
Up to 21cm from feet to the segment tips, they grip onto the end of stalactites disguised as part of them, with their segments vertical. Camouflaged here they await their prey, whether it be animal or human. Their acidic spray is used to break down food, and they live in swarms. The bugs don't actually fly, but they use the small flesh layers between each pair of segments to glide down onto the victim. After attacking they'll climb back up the wall and into position.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: xgabo
concept: Clan of the Walking Bird
I am old enough to remember a time before casts. I remember when every creature, whether crawling on the earth or soaring in the sky, was like part of the same family, and treated as equals. There were four major clans on the land; The Lion, the Mammoth, the Walking Bird, and Man. We respected each other as representatives of the four corners of the world, and kept to our own territories.
But then the great famine came, and everything changed. The nomadic Mammoth clan migrated to southern lands, and the remaining clans started attacking and killing each other for survival. Man, the inquisitive ape, looked to the stars for an answer. Some claimed they found it, and many believed them. Two separate classes were born. I remember when a fellow villager first looked at me as if he was different, superior. Soon we had a few controlling the destinies of all. The new leaders taught us that man was above the other animals, and by our right we could harvest nature as much as we needed for survival. They said this new enlightenment came "From Above".
Soon, the rest of us was preparing traps and spikes to erradicate the competition we believed we now had in the other clans. Both Walking Birds and Lions were slowly destroyed without mercy. The remaining cats, afraid of our tools and fire, moved to the dry lands. The birds did the same, except for one. She was a fierce and intelligent warrior, and nobody in the village was able to kill her. In the spring she laid eggs. The leaders ordered them destroyed to ensure the end of the bird clan.
We penetrated the cave and no sign of the mother; we thanked the Gods for our fortune. As we carried the egg out, it appeared. It came from the darkness above us. The other warriors were instantly killed. then she came after me. Fearful for my life, I left the egg and started running out of the cave. She did not follow me, going straight for the egg. For a moment I looked back and our eyes met. I understood then. Necessity had not raised Man over the other animals, but lowered us to a inferior form of life, vicious and alone in the world.
I left that day, never to come back.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: llothcat
concept:
I'm thinking of going with the winged creatures from the book of Ezeikiel..
as i see it that is, since he gave a real confusing description of them:
4 wings and a mix of ox,eagle, man, and lion.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: dragon4lunch
concept:
I wanted to do a Chinese-type dragon. I call him Abakka. Inventor of the abakus, ancient device for calculating. Yes. Due to the lack of arms, Abakka, had no means of building an abakus, so he had a friendly shepherd build one for him. He ate on of his oxen, well, he was hungry and the shepherd wasn't looking. Just kidding.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: Chr
concept:
The giant tree bird is completely harmless, but it looks scary. Probably. Noone has ever seen it. Its asymetrical tree-like legs and leaf-like feathers keeps it hidden despite its massive body. When not feeding on various berries it usually follows people and around silently mimicing their sounds and behaviour from above the tree tops.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: Mr Man
concept:
Day 9 of the Malnus wasteland exploration: Today has been the strangest part of this journey so far. I witnessed one of the strangest events I have ever seen with my own two eyes. As me and my colleagues were travelling across the wastelands to visit the small native village of Calthut, we stumbled upon a small ceremony just west before we got to the village. There were around 50 men, women and children all chanting bizarre callings. Then all of a sudden the sky darkened and clouds began to gather. What we witnessed would never leave our minds. It came from above! A huge green creature as big as the sky came down covered with long thing tentacles. It had two heart penetrating eyes that one could not describe but as death. It appeared that these people were sacrificing themselves to this creature as they did not move an inch in fear. The creature impaled its tentacles through the people’s heads and appeared to absorb their fluids and organs. I wondered to myself why this creature had a mouth though as it did not use it? Perhaps this was for larger prey? It left everyone dead… It swiftly hovered back into the sky leaving a small trail of dark clouds. For many nights I pondered how this creature seemed so magical. I came to a conclusion that perhaps it has some form of incredible static energy hence why the clouds followed it. However it is a mystery how it produces such energy. Perhaps the people thought this strange creature was some form of god?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: buck6455
concept:
Frightening at first glance, Aeris-Vesica, or as it's more commonly called, the air crab, is actually a very docile creature. It can usually be found floating over meadows right after dawn, feeding on the nights collection of dew and the nectar of fresh flowers. Shy by nature, the la-z-boy sized animal's fierce looking spines are generally only used in territorial disputes which often end with both of the combatants partially deflated. Luckily, the air crab's many buoyant air bladders are separated by thin membrains that usually prevent a complete collapse.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: davi
concept:
The skies darkened with smoke as dark as tar. Flames pierced the black blanket and within an instant a burning mass speed to the ground shaking the cities with its impact. Terror filled the streets as buildings crumbled, fires spread through city streets, and mother's cried for their babies. The fear caused by the noise, panic and destruction was only equalled by the silence that quietly followed.
The beast rose up form the rumble and its eyeless gaze pierced through the surviors and then it began. ...The beast took.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: cotron
concept: It Came from Uranus (or- It Came From A Butt)
On the methane-choked planet of Mianus, all was well and good. That is, until that one fateful day. The atmospheric invasion alarms rang all over Mianus; that was the day It Came.... From Uranus!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: Moai
concept: Meyu Maxah
On the bustling streets of Kolay, the air hummed with activity. Merchants and buyers haggled over prices, minstrals fluted and strummed on the corners, chefs scrambled to prepare meals for impatient customers, and thugs chose targets from the shadows. Suddenly, there was a cry: "Meyu Maxah! Meyu Maxah!" All noice ceased, all movements halted except the craning of heads to gaze up at the sky. Then, as one, the knelt down on their triple backwards-facing knees and threw their hands up in prayer; the faithful with joy, the sinners and disbelievers with trembling fear. The Old Gods, the Meyu Maxah, had returned.
Once every two or three generations, the Meyu Maxah appear in the skies of Shakeesh. After about a week of enigmatic inactivity, they disappear just as abruptly. The true nature of these creatures is a mystery. According to folklore, they are the Old Gods, the masters of creation, Those Who Come From Above. When the Meyu Maxah appear, prayer and fasting are mandatory, enforced by the Shee, the Holy Police. All commerse, all personal affairs besides the dire necessities, come to a halt.
Science, however, has a different theory about the nature of the Meyu Maxah. They are believed to be creatures that exist primarily outside the three spatial dimensions which we can detect. Why they choose to appear in our three dimensions every so often is a complete mystery; nothing is known of their motives. Perhaps a developmental phase in their life cycle brings them into our world. Perhaps they come here of their own volition; it is not known. Their apparent weightlessness and free-floating organs may also be explained by this extra-dimensional theory. They may be supported by structures or limbs that never become visible in our three dimensions.
Despite the attention given to them by worshippers and scientists, the Meyu Maxah are quite uneventful beings. They do little more than drift through the air. The only activity they show are occasional, deliberate and intricate movements of their many hands. The faithful see these as messages from the Gods. Scientists, however, view this as proof for their extra-dimensional hypothesis, as the beings appear to be manipulating invisible tools. Computer analysis of these hand-movements have even given them an inkling of what the tools may look like.
However, scientists, may do little more than observe and speculate. The Shee strictly forbid any interaction or close study of the beings. The only known sample of their flesh in the world, a severed hand, is under constant guard in the religious stronghold of Kuu Rea, off limits to scientific scrutiny. Until the veil of superstition is lifted from these creatures, their mystery will endure.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: Stephan_R
concept: White Winged Drunken Dragon
This pink dragon has only two limbs that act as arms as well as wings. The wings will sprout feathers in the spring and lose them in the fall, causing many dragons to crash to the Earth below. This is the reason behind their nickname. Despite the understanding that the dragons will lose their feathers, they are far too frustrated with crawling on the ground and simply cannot help but to take flight each spring. These clumsy beasts develop a talent for spotting soft surfaces below to cushion their inevitable descent.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: aspira
concept: Golden Spiradacto
The golden spiradacto is an endangered parrot, indigenous to the humid forests of Ghana. Though there are few in existence, they can live over 120 years. Most are not lucky enough to grow old, fat and decrepit (as this one is); as their strong and majestic wings are waterproof, flame resistant, and tipped with delicate solid gold starbursts. It is rumored that if you eat the golden spiradacto’s feet, you will be given the ability to read people’s minds – all of which make them a rare and valuable commodity to the native people of the Cape Coast region.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: Deep_Blue_Void
concept: Plague Frogs
This is my first ever COW entry. (After several months I've finally conjured up the courage to enter) I hope it's not too late to enter.
The 'plague frogs' are created from the blood of witches who have been killed without just cause. Shortly after death all the witch's hatred becomes stagnant, warping and decomposing her body rapidly, leaving behind a small quantity of black frog spawn. These eggs evaporate into the air forming a dark, ominous, thunder cloud, which gathers over near by villages and towns. Within hours the frogs hatch and grow to their full size. Once the frogs have fully germinated they are released as a shower of chaos and destruction upon the unsuspecting villagers, destroying crops and tainting the land with their hatred.
After the storm has passed, the frogs wither away, almost as quickly as they came, leaving behind a scarred and putrid marshland, unfit for any kind of human settlement.
This is known as 'The Witches Final Curse'.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: jfwalls
concept:
These extremely rare creatures sometimes appear after large thunderstorms. No one knows exactly where they come from, but it is believed they are somehow pulled from another dimension by the electromagnetism of lightning. Whatever the case they have never been found alive, and decompose very quickly.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: VegasMike
concept: The Great Crab Dragon of Monster Island
The Crab Dragon makes its home on Monster Island and cruises through the upper levels of the jet stream to locate its favorite prey, elephant. The Dragon plummets from above and forces the herd to scatter in fright with a low frequency roar only the elephants can hear. The Dragon will then pick off the lone stragglers and come back for more till its had it's fill. The locals have reported whole herds dissappearing into the belly of the beast in just under an hour. The translation of the african word for the beast is "The creature who came from above."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: BlkCelebration
concept: Sopapo
These fun-loving simians have too much time on their hands. Other than eating, mating, and keeping their 'stache impecable, they like to play pranks on unsuspecting passersby. Their tails are quite strong and their lenght lets them hang from atop high tree tops. When they see a target they jump down (tail tightly grasped on the branch) in a bungie jump-like fasion and smack people upside the head....I hate those guys.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: amer_nazri
concept:
These cosmic creatures roam the galaxy in search of floating particles which may provide a form of nutrition. However, there have been cases where these mysterious birds have soared too close to a planet's atmosphere, causing them to be pulled by the gravitational force. Scientists have made the connection between these incidents and the sighting of what was before thought as shooting stars. Others, however, remain skeptical.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: siliKONe
concept:
The Silk Blooms appeared in the sky in the mid twenty-first century. At first, they puzzled scientists, as they appeared to spontaneously grow from the air. Later, they horrified everyone as they trapped great airliners like hapless flies in their sticky tendrils. Silenty, they spread across the skies. Much too late, it was discovered that they were an airborne spore that leeched nutrition from greenhouse gases. Their numbers too numerous to control, their silkspan grew greater, and their tendrils longer. In time, their hungry threads would reach the surface of the planet and turn mankind into a puddle of biomass.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------artist: adonihs
concept:
Hidden in space for decades, it finally emerges. The Spirit Draic shoots down into earth, to consume it's energy from the natural resources of our planet. Destroying everything in its path, consuming anything it touches. Our weapons make it stronger, or fires build its strength. Anything it touches, turn's to flames as it plows through cities, states, and countries at quick speeds.

I want to take this round for a general discussion about one point, which i have trouble with.
I hope siliKONe and adonihs won't take it as an offense or something personal, it's just that they entered with to entries which represent the kind of entries i often reject.

Though the overall quality, composition, action etc is on a top level, you can't see any creature or creature design at all.

Of course adonihs showed only a part of his creature to explain the concept/idea and also siliKONe's creatures are that simplicistic as they are because of their function...

But if i think if one entry which doesn't show much of a creature (design) will take place in the winner gallery amongst all this entries with a LOT of creature material to see, it's kinda not spot on the idea of a creature activity....is it???

I voted njoo's, close between his & vegasmike's. In the end I like the background/concept of njoo's more, interesting function to the design of the critter. Both technically well achieved pieces though.